Population Ecology

What is lambda and how do you solve for it? What equations is it used in?

• finite rate of population growth

• N1/N0

• discrete, exponential = N_t = lambda^^t * N₀

What is R and how do you solve for it? What equations is it used in?

• geometric population growth rate

• R = change in N / N₀

• R = lambda - 1

• discrete logistic growth

• N_t+1 = N_t + RN(1-N_t/K)

How do you solve for per capita birth/birth rate (b) and per capita death/death rate (d) ?

• Births / N₀

• Deaths / N₀

Lambda for a red panda population is 2. If the population last year was 200, what will the population be next year? Use the discrete model.

• lambda = N₁/N0

• 2 = N₁/200

• N₁ = 400

What is the formula for continuous logistic growth?

• N_t+1 = N_t + RN_t (1-N_t/K)

What does the logitstic growth model assume?

• No immigration or emigration

• no variation among individuals

• no sex or age structure

• constant birth and death rate; no density dependence

• has a carrying capacity

How does the growth rate change in density dependent populations?

growth rate decreases as density increases

What contributes to a species’ maximum growth rate?

• clutch or litter size

• age at first breeding

• frequency of breeding

• parental care

A population of red panda currently has 200 individuals. Over one year, 30 births and 10 deahts are observed. Using the discrete model,

What is little r and how do you solve for it? What equations is it used in? 

• r = birth rate - death rate (instantaneous rate of growth)

• used for exponential/continuous population growth

• N_t=N₀e^rt (continuous exponential growth)

What is the formula for continuous exponential growth?

N_t=N₀e^rt

What are the continous exponential growht modles, discrete exponential growth models, and discrete logistic growth model formulas?

• continuous exponential: N_t=N₀e^rt

• discrete exponential: N₁ = N₀*lambda^^t

• discrete logistic: N_t+1 = N_t + RN(1-N_t/K)

What is the continous exponential growth formula?

N_t+1= N_t * lambda

How do you calculate lambda from R?

lambda = R + 1